Bowling lanes and means associated therewith for exercising and correcting bodily movements



May 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING ANDCORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet l a a 2:5 535W I N VEN TOR.

62026.6 M IVE/0C BY May 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING ANDCORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 2INVENTOR. 62-0255 M B/PK/C BY ATTORNEY,

y 2, 1967 G. M. BIRKIC 3,317,208

BOWLING LANES AND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING ANDCORRECTING BODILY MOVEMENTS Filed March 12, 1964 4 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTOR. 550 65 M fl/Fk/C United States Patent 3 317 208 BOWLING LANESAND MEANS ASSOCIATED THEREWITH FOR EXERCISING AND COR- RECTING BODILYMOVEMENTS George M. Birkic, 24130 Euclid Ave., Apt. 4B, Euclid, Ohio44117 Filed Mar. 12, 1964, Ser. No. 351,345 16 Claims. (Cl. 273--54) Thepresent invention relates to bowling lanes and more particularly toapparatus or devices associated with a bowling lane or with portionsthereof for enabling a bowler to diagnose himself and to correctimproper bodily movements prior to and during delivery of a bowlingball. It also relates to apparatus in association with a bowling lane orportions thereof for exercising the muscles of the arms, such as areused in rowing, or the muscles of the leg, such as are used in pedaling.

When a bowler tries to make a good delivery of his ball, his desire torepeat sensory experiences that feel right acts as a stimulus to him todeliver the ball in a way that is associated with such experiences. Thedominating influence of his desire to gain his end by the use of bodilymovements which feel right but which are wrong for the purpose, explainswhy in spite of repeated experience of failure, he does not conform hisbodily movements to those which are necessary in obtaining a good score.Bowlers who compete in tournaments and are intent on making a good scorefrequently consult professionals but the use of their bodies inconforming to instructions received for making a good delivery are actscontrary to habitual use and which because they are associated withsensory experiences which are unfamiliar, feel wrong. The bowlertherefore usually resorts to his own sensory experiences which involveincorrect bodily movements and never attains a high degree of skill.

It is the aim of the present invention to provide improved apparatuswhich may be installed on a lane in a bowling alley for instructionalpurposes and which may be removed during league or tournament play or toapparatus installed in the basement or recreation room of a homeincluding a portion of a lane where practice may be conducted by thebowler at his leisure and at low cost and in which the bowler may notonly be informed with respect to the fundamental principles of correctbowling but may observe for himself the faults in his bodily movements.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus associated with a bowling lane or parts thereof by means ofwhich a bowler may make a diagnosis of himself and correct improperbodily movements which have become habitual with him and which preventhim from attaining the coordination, rhythmical movement, poise, andbalance, which are necessary in becoming a good bowler.

. Another object of my invention is to provide improved apparatusincluding a portion of a bowling lane which may be installed in thebasement or recreation room of a home and which enables a bowler to makea self-diagnosis and to develop good bodily movement during his practiceat low cost.

A further object of my invention is to provide in combination with aportion of a bowling alley lane apparatus for exercising the arms, legs,and body.

My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bowling lane with a portion of therunway leading to the foul line being broken away;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view taken on a plane passing through theline 22 of FIG. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with one ofthe lamp casings broken away to expose the lamp; 7

FIG. 3 is a detail elevational view of the lower portion of a verticalrod used in my improved apparatus with parts in section;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a bowling lane with therunway leading to the foul line broken away and a perspective view ofapparatus associated with the lane for providing instructions and amirror for showing an image of the bowler as he approaches the foul lineand releases his ball;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view on a plane passing through the line 5-5of FIG. 4, looking in the direction of the arrows;

FIG. 6 is a view somewhat similar to that shown in FIG. 4 with partsbroken away and showing additional apparatus for providing an exercisesimilar to that attained by rowing;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6 in which the additionalapparatus shown is for providing leg exercises, such as that afforded bypedaling a bicycle; and

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the path of the light beam to the foulline and a particular spot on the lane and the path of the ball from thespot on the lane to a particular pin or group of pins.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a standard 60 foot bowlinglane 1 is shown having a foul line 2 to which the usual runway 10extends, portions of which are shown broken away. The pins 3 are shownin place on the designated spots at the opposite end of the laneadjacent the usual well, not shown, into which the pins may fall. i

In accordance with my invention spots 4 are arranged approximately attwelve feet from the foul line and supported by posts 5 on the upperwall of the ball-return race is a frame designated generally by thenumeral 6 which may be secured to the posts by any suitable means, suchas glue or cement. The frame may be formed of any suitable material,such as metal or wood, and consists of a rear wall 7 andangularly-shaped side wall pieces, each having a forwardly extendingflange 8 and a rear flange 8a cemented or otherwise secured to the rearwall. In the event the frame and posts are formed of metal, the post andthe rear flange of the side portions may be welded or brazed to the rearWall.

The lower portion of the frame has a plurality of spaced marks 9thereon, each of which is arranged above one of the spots 4 0n thebowling lane and to enable the bowler to view his form during andparticularly at the end of his stroke, a mirror 10 is glued or otherwiseadherent affixed to the rear wall of the frame and the forwardlyextending side walls 8 are each provided with aligned slots 11 toreceive a longitudinally extending rod or bar 12 which may therefore beadjusted vertically so that when the bowler releases the ball, the imageof his shoulders in the mirror will appear directly beneath thelongitudinally extending rod. The longitudinally extending rod may ofcourse be adjusted to the proper height depending upon the height of thebowler. The mirror is of the transparent type which reflects the imageof the bowler but which enables him to see the pins at the opposite endof the lane through the mirror.

During bowling, the arm that propels the ball acts as a pendulum and inaccordance with approved practice is maintained straight throughout theentire delivery of the ball and to enable the bowler to ascertainwhether the arm utilized in delivering the ball is straight at the timeof delivery, a second rod 13 is provided which eX- tends vertically torod 12 and while the rod 13 may be supported in any desired manner, asshown, the stern of 3 a hook 14 is embedded in the upper end of thevertical rod and the hooked portion extends over the horizontal rod 12.In the event the bowler is left-handed, rod 13 maybe arranged adjacentthe left hand side of the mirror as viewed from the foul line.

In accordance with my invention, means are provided to place before thebowler instructions with respect to the proper form to be observed byhim prior to and during delivery of the ball. The form to be followedwould be that approved either by professionals or those well versed inthesport. For this purpose, the upper portion of the frame has a cover15 extending forwardly therefrom, the front wall 16 of which is inclineddownwardly to form a housing 17, to the opposite ends of which crosspieces 18 are secured by suitable means, such as by welding or by cementor nails and each cross piece is provided with forwardly extending lugs19 at its opposite ends having apertures or recesses therein forreceiving the opposite ends of a curtain rod 20 to which a curtain 21 issecured in the usual manner. As shown, each of the curtains may bepulled downwardly over a portion of the mirror and upon each of thecurtains is printed a fundamental principle of proper bowling. Forinstance, the following may be printed on one of the curtains:

ADDRESS, FIRST STEP, SECOND STEP, THIRD STEP, FOURTH STEP, SLIDE ANDSTOP, RE- LEASE BALL AND LIFT ARM After the bowler has mastered theproper approach to the foul line, the first curtain may be raised andanother curtainmay be lowered on which is printed the position of thebowling arm as the bowler approaches the foul line. For instance, thesecond curtain may contain the following instructions:

KEEP BOWLING ARM STRAIGHT AND SHOUL- DERS AT LEVEL WITH THE BAR AS THEYAP- PEAR IN THE IMAGE IN THE MIRROR AS THE BALL IS RELEASED Upon a thirdcurtain may be printed additional instructions, such as:

KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE SPOT AND NOT ON THE PINS If. desired additionalcurtains may be provided upon which is printed other desirableinstructions or information.

In accordance with my invention, means are also provided for directing abeam of light from a spot 22 on the foul line to one of the spots 4spaced down the lane from the foul line, a series of which are arrangedupon the laneat approximately twelve feet from the foul line, and whileany suitable means may be provided for this purpose, such as byproviding a light suspended from a wall or ceiling in the bowling alleyon the front of which is arranged an opaque wall having spacedrectangularlyshaped slots therein and upper and lower grooves to provide a guide-way for an opaque slide which also has a rectangular slottherein which may be selectively brought into alignment with any one ofthe slots in the opaque wall, as shown in the drawings, four lamps areprovided which may be selectively illuminated by conductors 23 extendingto the respective lamps from terminals on a panel 24 which conductorsmay be energized by being brought into electrical contact with terminalson a switch to which conductors from a suitable source of electricalenergy are connected in the usual manner. Each lamp is supported by anopaque casing 25, 26, 27, and 28, respectively, which is rotatablymounted in the front wall 16 of the housing and is provided with arectangular slot 29 so that when a casing is properly adjusted in thefront wall and the lamp within the particular casing is illuminated, abeam of light is directed from a spot 22 on the foul line to a spot 4 onthe lane which as previously stated is located approximately twelve feetfrom the foul line. After the bowler becomes familiar with throwing theball over a particular beam, the intensity of the beam between the spoton the foul line and the spot on the lane may be dimmed. For thispurpose, a rheostat 23a may be inserted in the conductor 23 leading toeach lamp.

As shown in the drawings, see particularly FIGS. 2 and 8, the lampwithin the casing 26 may be illuminated first and a beam of lightpassing through the rectangular slot in casing 26 extends from the spot22a on the foul line to the spot 4a on the lane. When the ball is thrownalong this beam 30, it will pass over spot 4a on the lane and willnormally follow the path 30a into the pocket between the l and 3 pinswhich usually results in a strike. If the ball, however, varies in itscourse and the pin 5 remains standing, another ball thrown from spot 22aon the foul line over spot 4a on the lane will normally follow the path30a and will knock down the 5 pin. In the event pins 2, 4, 7 and 8remain standing after the first ball is delivered, a beam of light fromlamp 27 directed between the spot 22a on the foul line and the spot 4bon the lane will normally follow the path 30b which will knock downthese pins. In the event pins 3, 6, 9 and 10 or pin 10 alone remainsstanding after the first ball is delivered, a beam of light from lamp 26may be directed between spot 22b on the foul line to spot 4a on the laneand this beam will normally follow the path 300 and will not only knockdown pins 3, 6, 9 and 10 if those pins remain standing, or will knockdown pin 10 if that is the only pin that remains standing.

It will of course be understood that the particular spot on the foulline and the particular spot on the lane between which the beam of lightis cast is merely illustrative and will depend upon the individual andthe arm he uses in delivering the ball. For instance, if the bowler useshis left arm or in the event he naturally or automatically curves hisball during delivery, proper correction may be made and for this purposeadditional spots are provided on the foul line and on the lane in whichcase the beam of light may be directed between any desired spot on thefoul line and any desired spot on the lane, or if desired, additionalcasings may be provided in housing 17, each having a lamp therein, bymeans of which additional beams of light may be directed from a spot onthe foul line to a spot on the lane. Instead of providing beams oflight, narrow strips may be formed across the slots to provide a seriesof spaced spots and the lamps from which each beam or series of spacedspots emanates may be of a color different from that of the color ofeach of the other lamps.

When the ball is thrown over a particular beam of light, such as from aspot 22a on the foul line to a spot 4a on the lane, the vertical rod isarranged over the spot on the lane so that as the bowler releases theball, his image in the mirror will show him that his bowling arm isstraight and to assure the bowler that the central portion of the ballpasses over the spot on the lane, rod 13 may be provided with aresilient extension which is engaged by the ball passing over the spot.The extension may be formed in any suitable manner. As shown, aninternally threaded recess is formed in the bottom of the rod 13 intowhich a plug 31 is threaded and spring 32 may be secured to the plug inany suitable manner, such as by soldering or welding if the plug isformed of metal, or if desired, the spring may be formed integral withthe plug. For example, if the lower portion of spring 32 terminateseight and onefourth inches above the spot and if the bowling ball iseight and one-half inches in diameter and strikes the spring, it willmake a resonant noise. However, if the central portion of the ball doesnot pass over the spot, the ball will not strike the spring and no soundwill occur which will indicate to the bowler that the ball did not passover the spot. To prevent the spring from scratching or otherwisemarring the bowling ball, the lower portion of the spring may be coveredwith a layer of felt 33.

In addition to providing apparatus that may be installed on the lane ofa bowling alley for instructional purposes, I also provide apparatusthat may be installed in the basement or recreation room of a home uponwhich a bowler may practice to attain the desired form. Thismodification of my invention is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and because manyof the parts in FIG. 4 are similar to those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, theyhave been designated by the same reference numerals. As in the structureshown in FIG. 1, the mirror is of the transparent type and over the rearof the mirror is a three dimension transparent plastic picture of thebowling pins 3 which appear to be at the same distance from the frame asthe pins on a real bowling alley lane.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the lane 1 is provided with a runway 1aleading to the foul line 2 and the spots 9 are shown on the frame belowthe mirror. The distance from the foul line 2 to the spots 9 is twelvefeet so that this portion of the lane is similar to that shown in FIGS.1 and 2. The frame, mirror, and horizontal and vertical rods are similarto those shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and have accordingly been designated bythe same reference numerals.

Because the portion of the lane shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is comparativelyshort, means are provided to break the advance of the ball which is ofstandard size and is thrown in the usual manner from the foul line. Anysuitable means may be provided for this purpose, such asrectangularly-shaped bags filled with sand and faced with a resilientmaterial, such as rubber, or masonite faced with rubber or nylon. Asshown, a plate 34 formed of a heavy metal, such as steel, and faced witha layer 35 of rubber is pivotally supported in any suitable manner. Forthis purpose, a frame 36 is provided consisting of spaced side walls 37secured to rails 38 on the opposite sides of the lane. The side walls ofthe frame are connected together by a rear Wall 39 and by spaced rods 40which brace the frame and form a support for the bowling ball when it isnot in use. As shown in FIG. 5, for pivotally mounting plate 34, a metalrod 41 secured to plate 34 protrudes at its opposite ends beyond the endof plate 34 and is pivotally mounted in recesses formed in the upperforward portions of the side walls of the frame and to provide properinstructions for the bowler during practice, a plurality of curtains mayalso be provided within the housing 17 projecting from the frame whichmay be pulled down and the mirror which reflects the image of thehorizontal and vertical rods associated with the frame indicates to thebowler whose image is shown in the mirror whether his bodily movementsare correct as he approaches the foul line and delivers his ball.

Because a comparatively heavy plate is necessary to break the advance ofthe ball, means associated with the plate may be provided for exercisingthe muscle-s of the arms as shown in FIG. 6, or the muscles ofthe legsas shown in FIG. 7. For exercising the muscles of the arms, a bracket 42provided with a slot or a plurality of apertures is .adjustably securedto the upper portion of plate 34 by suitable means, such as a screw tovary its resistance as shown more particularly in FIG. 5 and has flanges43 with apertures therein to receive a pin extending through the arm ofsecond bracket 44 having rotatable means mounted therein. While therotatable means may be of any suitable type, such as a pulley, as showna sprocket 45 having a central aperture is provided. To hold thesprocket in place, the bracket 44 has oppositely disposed faces, eachprovided with a central aperture and the sprocket is rotatably held inplace by a pintle 46 extending through the apertures in the faces of thebracket and the aperture in the sprocket, and means are provided to rockthe plate 34 and its facing 35 by movement of the arms in an exercisesimilar to that produced by rowing.

To provide such a structure, rotatable means, such as a chain 53 istrained around the sprocket, a rod 4 8 is provided having spaced rings49 and 50 thereon, and a pair of oars 51 and 52 are provided, the buttend of oar 51 being received within a recess at the junction of one ofthe side rails 38 and the lane and the butt end of the other oar beingreceived in a recess at the junction of the other side rail and the laneand means are provided to connect the oars to the opposite ends of chain53 which is trained around sprocket 45. For this purpose, a ring isconnected to each oar in proximity to its butt end and ropes 54 and 55are provided, ropes 54 having a hook 56 connected to one end of chain 53from which it passes through the ring 49 on rod 48 and is provided witha hook at its opposite end which is connected to the ring on oar 51 andin a like manner, one end of rope 55 has a hook 57 thereon which isconnected to the opposite end of chain 53 from which it extends throughring 50 on rod 48 and its opposite end is provided with a hook which isconnected to the ring on oar 52.

As shown in FIG. 7, means associated with the bowling lane and thepivotally mounted plate 34 is also provided for providing leg exercises,such as those produced by pedaling a bicycle. For this purpose, a pairof blocks 58 are provided having fiat lower faces resting on the bowlinglane and arcuate-shaped upper faces which are inclined downwardly towardthe facing 35 of the pivotally mounted plate 34 and each of which isprovided with a ring 58a at its forward end and an aperture at its rearend through which apertures a rod 59 extends having its opposite endsjournalled in apertures in the side rails of the frame. A rod alsoextends between blocks 58 upon which pedals 60 and 61 are pivotallymounted which pedals are spaced from each other and from the blocks bycollars 62. Each of the pedals is provided at its forward end with aring 63 and 63a, respectively, and a rope 64 having a hook at one end isconnected to one pedal and its opposite end is connected to a ring atone end of chain 53 and the other rope has a hook at one end which isconnected to the other pedal and its other end has a hook thereon whichis connected to a ring on the other end of chain 53.

A back rest 65 is also provided having rings at itsopposite ends and arope 66 has one end connected to the ring at one end of the back restand a hook at its opposite end which is connected to the forward end ofone of the pedals and a similar rope has a hook thereon connected to thering at the opposite end of the back rest 65 and its opposite endconnected to the ring 58a on the other pedal.

A person utilizing the apparatus may sit on the lane with his backagainst the rest 65 and his feet upon the pedals and when the pedals areselectively moved, the free end of the rubber faced plate 34 is rockedupwardly on its pivot but returns to its normally vertical position whenthe force upon each pedal is removed. During the movement of the oars orpedals as shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, plate 34 and its face 35 are pivotedon rod 41 as an axis. There is also a rotary movement of the sprocketand means is provided to increase the friction between the faces of thesecond bracket and the sprocket to increase the force necessary torotate the sprocket, and while any suitable means may be provided forthis purpose, as shown, a spring 68 is interposed between a wing shapednut 69 threaded on one end of the pintle and the adjacent face of thebracket and as nut 69 is threaded inwardly, spring 68 is compressed toforce the adjacent face of the second bracket against the sprocket.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a framearranged over said lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame forinterrupting a bowling ball when the lane is utilized for practicingbowling, a bracket extending upwardly and forwardly from said plate,rotatable means mounted in said bracket, a rail extending upwardly fromeach side of said lane, manually movable means arranged on said lane,means associated with said rails and the manually movable means forholding the manually movable means in place, and means associated withsaid rotatable means and the manually movable means for pivoting saidplate on its axis during movement of at least a portion of the manuallymovable means.

, 2. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a framearranged over the lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame forinterrupting a bowling ball when the lane is utilized to practicebowling, a rail arranged on each side of said lane and said lane havingoppositely disposed recesses therein, one of which is arranged adjacentone rail and the other of which is arranged adjacent the other rail, abracket mounted on said plate, a sprocket rotatably mounted in saidbracket, a chain trained around said sprocket, a pair of oars, the buttend of one of which extends into one of said recesses and the butt endof the other of which extends into the other recess, and means connectedto one of said oars and one end of said chain and to the other oar andthe other end of said chain for rotating said sprocket and for applyingpressure to said bracket to selectively pivot said plate on its axisduring rearward movement of each of said oars, and said plate beingmovable to its normal vertical position when the force upon the oars isreleased.

3. The combination as defined in claim 2 in which the bracket hasoppositely disposed metal faces having aligned apertures therein, apivot pin extending through the apertures in said faces, and meansassociated with said pivot pin and with the faces of the bracket toforce the metal faces of the bracket toward each other to increase thefriction on said sprocket to thereby increase the force necessary torotate said sprocket.

4. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a frame arrangedover the lane, a plate pivotally mounted on said frame for interruptinga bowling ball when the lane is utilized to practice bowling, a railarranged upon each side of said lane, said rails having oppositelydisposed apertures therein, a rod extending across said lane, meansassociated with said rod for pivotally mounting a pair of pedals inplace, a bracket mounted on said plate, a sprocket rotatably mounted insaid bracket, a chain trained around said sprocket, and means connectedto one of said pedals and one end of said chain and to the other pedaland the opposite end of said chain for rotating said sprocket when saidpedals are selectively activated by foot pressure for rotating saidsprocket and for applying sufficient pressure to selectively pivot saidplate on its axis during movement of each of said pedals and said platebeing movable to its normal vertical position when the force upon saidpedals is released.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4 in which the bracket hasoppositely disposed metal faces having aligned apertures therein, apivot pin extending through said apertures and said sprocket, and meansassociated with said pivot pin and with the faces of said bracket toforce the metal faces toward each other to increase the friction on saidsprocket to thereby increase the force necessary to rotate saidsprocket.

6. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline, a frame extending across and upwardly from the bowling lane at apredetermined distance from the foul line, said frame having a back walland forwardly extending side flanges, each of which flanges has spacednotches therein which are aligned with the notches in the oppositeflange, a horizontal rod supported in aligned notches in said flangesanda vertical rod extending downwardly from the horizontal rod and beingadjustably supported thereon, a mirror adherently secured to the backwall, and a forwardly extending top wall which extends beyond the sideflanges and which has a front portion forming an upper housing extendingforwardly of said mirror, means for supporting said frame above thebowl-ing lane, a plurality of curtains, means within said housing forsupporting the upper portions of said curtains, each of which curtainshas thereon a fundamental principle of bowling and each of which may beselectively pulled down to a position over at least a portion of themirror so that mat- 8 ter on the curtain can be read by a bowler at'thefoul line after which the curtain may be released, and said bowlersimage being reflected in said mirror as he approaches the foul line anddelivers his ball to thereby indicate to him whether he has followedinstructions on the curtain.

7. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline thereon and a runway leading to said foul line, a first frameextending upwardly from a substantially level portion of said lane at ashort distance from the foul line, a mirror supported by said frame, asecond frame arranged between the foul line and the first frame on asubstantially level portion of said lane and having a stationary rearwall and side walls, and a comparatively heavy plate having an outerresilient facing pivotally supported on the forward ends of the sidewalls of the second frame for interrupting the advance of a bowlingball.

8. Apparatus as defined in claim 7 in which the mirror is of thetransparent type and upon the rear, of which mirror is the transparentplastic picture of bowling pins which appear to be at the same distancefrom the frame as the pins on a real bowling lane.

9. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline, a runway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality ofspots arranged linearly across the lane at the foul line and a pluralityof spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane at approximatelytwelve feet down the lane from the foul line, a frame extending upwardlyfrom said lane, a housing supported by said frame, a plurality of lampsarranged in said housing, each having illuminating means arrangedvtherein, an opaque casing surrounding each lamp having a rectangualrslot therein of such size that a guiding line of light may be directedfrom a spot on the foul line to a spot on the bowling lane approximatelytwelve feet down the lane from the foul line.

10. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline, a runway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality ofspots arranged linearly across the lane at the foul line and a pluralityof spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane at at least twelvefeet down the lane from the foul line, and means for directing a guidingline of light between a spot on the foul line and one of the spotsspaced down the lane from the foul line including a housing, a pluralityof lamps arranged in the housing, each having illuminating meanstherein, an opaque casing surrounding each lamp, each of which casingshas a rectangular slot therein which is of such size that a guiding lineof light may be directed from a spot on the foul line to one of thespots which is down the lane from the foul line.

11. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline, a runway leading to the foul line, said bowling lane having aplurality of spaced spots arranged linearly across the lane adjacent tothe foul line and a plurality of spaced spots arranged linearly acrossthe lane at a substantially spaced distance downwardly on the lane fromthe foul line, a source of light, opaque means associated with and beingmovable relative to said light source and having an opening thereinwhich opening is of sufficient length when the opaque means is moved toa position in which said opening is in front of said light source toprovide a beam of light from said light source which extends from one ofthe spots adjacent to the foul line to one of the linear spots on thelane which is spaced at a substantial distance downwardly on the lanefrom the foul lane.

12. The combination as defined in claim 11 including means for dimmingthe beam of light between the spot adjacent the foul line and the spoton said lane which is spaced a substantial distance downwardly on thelane from the foul line.

13. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane, a foul line, arunway leading to the foul line, said lane having a plurality of spotsarranged linearly across the lane adjacent to the foul line and aplurality of spots arranged linearly across the lane at approximatelytwelve feet downwardly on the lane from the foul line, a frame extendingupwardly from said lane, a housing supported by said frame having afront wall with a plurality of openings therein, illuminating meansarranged in said housing, movable opaque means associated with each ofsaid illuminating means and having a second opening therein which is ofsuflicient length when the opaque means is moved to a position in whichthe opening therein is in front of said illuminating means to provide abeam of light which extends from one of the linear spots adjacent to thefoul line to one of the linear spots on the lane which is approximatelytwelve feet downwardly on the lane from the foul line.

14. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foulline, a frame extending across and upwardly from the bowling lane at apredetermined distance from the foul line, means for supporting theframe above the bowling lane, a mirror secured to the frame, a rodextending longitudinally across the entire width of the mirror, meansassociated with said frame for adjustably supporting said rod in frontof the mirror at such height that the image of both shoulders of thebowler will appear in the mirror upon a plane substantially even withthe image of said rod, a vertical rod, means for adjustably supportingthe vertical rod from the horizontal rod to form a frame within whichthe image of both of the bowlers shoulders and the image of the bowlersarm which delivers the ball appear, and said vertical rod being of suchlength that it extends downwardly to at least the bottom of the mirrorto indicate that the bowlers arm is straight at the time he delivers theball.

15. In combination with at least part of a bowling lane having a foul.line, a frame extending across said lane at a predetermined distancefrom the foul line, means for supporting the frame above the bowlinglane, a mirror secured to said frame, means associated with said framefor adjustably supporting a longitudinally extending rod in front ofsaid mirror at such height relative to the bowling lane that the bowlersshoulders will appear in the mirror upon a plane substantially even withthe image of said rod in the mirror when the bowler delivers his ball, aplurality of spaced spots arranged linearly upon and across the bowlinglane in proximity to said frame, a vertical rod extending downwardlyfrom and being supported by the longitudinally extending rod, saidvertically extending rod being arranged in such position relative to thelongitudinally extending rod that it indicates to the bowler by hisimage within the mirror whether his arm was straight at the time theball was delivered, and the lower portion of the vertical rod having aspring secured thereto which extends downwardly toward said lane andwhich is arranged over one of said spots at a distance slightly lessthan eight and one-half inches from the lane so that if a ball passesover the spot below the spring, the spring will make a resonant noiseindicating to the bowler that the ball has passed over the spot belowthe spring.

16. Apparatus as defined in claim 15 in which the lower portion of thespring is covered with a layer of felt to prevent the spring fromscratching or marring the bowling ball.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,410,811 3/192'2Lewis.

1,569,260 1/1926 Cahill 27337 2,494,000 1/ 1950 Robertson 3.5292,967,055 l/1961 Sardella 27341 2,998,660 9/ 1961 Hickey 27354 3,009,26811/1961 George.

3,052,992 9/ 1962 Besterda.

3,058,746 10/1962 Oder 27354 3,076,652 2/1963 Wolff 273-54 3,120,9562/1964 Burgess 27354 3,171,216 3/1965 Douthit et al 3.5-17 3,210,079 10/1965 Tryon 27354 3,220,728 11/1965 Fechter 273-54 ANTON O. OECHSLE,Primary Examiner. RICHARD C. PINKHAM, Examiner.

14. IN COMBINATION WITH AT LEAST PART OF A BOWLING LANE HAVING A FOULLINE, A FRAME EXTENDING ACROSS AND UPWARDLY FROM THE BOWLING LANE AT APREDETERMINED DISTANCE FROM THE FOUL LINE, MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THEFRAME ABOVE THE BOWLING LANE, A MIRROR SECURED TO THE FRAME, A RODEXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY ACROSS THE ENTIRE WIDTH OF THE MIRROR, MEANSASSOCIATED WITH SAID FRAME FOR ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTING SAID ROD IN FRONTOF THE MIRROR AT SUCH HEIGHT THAT THE IMAGE OF BOTH SHOULDERS OF THEBOWLER WILL APPEAR IN THE MIRROR UPON A PLANE SUBSTANTIALLY EVEN WITHTHE IMAGE OF SAID ROD, A VERTICAL ROD, MEANS FOR ADJUSTABLY SUPPORTINGTHE VERTICAL ROD FROM THE HORIZONTAL ROD TO FORM A FRAME WITHIN WHICHTHE IMAGE OF BOTH OF THE BOWLER''S SHOULDERS AND THE IMAGE OF THEBOWLER''S ARM WHICH DELIVERS THE BALL APPEAR, AND SAID VERTICAL RODBEING OF SUCH LENGTH THAT IT EXTENDS DOWNWARDLY TO AT LEAST THE BOTTOMOF THE MIRROR TO INDICATE THAT THE BOWLER''S ARM IS STRAIGHT AT THE TIMEHE DELIVERS THE BALL.